How to Choose a Walkie-Talkie

Transceivers are extremely useful devices, both for recreation and for delicate tasks, such as emergency services. These devices work through radio waves, signals sent into the ether that are intercepted and coded, to allow conversations between people even at great distances. There are many different models of two-way radios on the market, so you can know what aspects to evaluate to buy the right product. Here is a complete guide to understand how to choose the Walkie-Talkies to buy.

How Walkie-Talkies work and what they are used for

Transceivers are portable devices useful in different occasions, as they allow you to communicate at a distance in a rather simple and efficient way. Their operation takes place through high frequency bands, waves present in the ether that are used to send and pick up the incoming and outgoing signal. Thanks to the antenna placed on the device, Walkie-Talkies can recognize this signal and convert it into an understandable sound, allowing communication in both directions.

Because of their extreme precision, these systems are used by law enforcement and emergency services, as the two-way radios offer minimal latency and a very good quality signal, even in complex conditions and in the absence of internet connections and mobile phone services. Walkie-Talkies also allow for multiple communications, a feature that does not exist in cell phone conversations. Of course, it is not possible to talk simultaneously, because this would occupy the frequencies, but each connected user can listen to the conversation.

With the two-way radios it is therefore possible to talk or listen, not both at the same time, in fact the system accepts only one signal at a time. It is no coincidence that the command "step" is used when talking with the Walkie-Talkie, an indication that allows you to understand when the message is finished, finalizing with the words "step and close" to finally conclude the communication. The usefulness of these devices can range from entertainment to camping, from excursions to home security, up to professional use in the workplace.

Walkie-Talkies: how to choose the right ones

To choose the best Walkie-Talkies it is necessary to evaluate some fundamental aspects, characteristics that allow you to identify the most suitable two-way radios for your needs. In general, it is important to consider the price, quality, technology, coverage, any accessories and the performance of the device. Vediamo dunque nel dettaglio come decidere quali Walkie-Talkie conviene acquistare, d’accordo con le proprie necessità e la finalità d’uso.

Distanza e copertura del segnale

Il primo aspetto da analizzare riguarda la distanza del segnale, ovvero la lontananza massima che le ricetrasmittenti sono in grado di coprire. Ovviamente si tratta di un fattore legato alla qualità degli apparecchi, infatti un Walkie-Talkie economico per bambini avrà una capacità di pochi metri, mentre un modello professionale può raggiungere anche decine di chilometri di distanza, garantendo una comunicazione impeccabile.

Non usando sistemi di connessione Bluetooth o di telefonia, la copertura del segnale dipende dalla capacità della radiolina di captare le alte frequenze, quindi direttamente dalla qualità stessa dell’antenna e del sistema di codifica. In linea di massima è possibile suddividere i Walkie-Talkie in tre grandi gruppi:

  • amatoriali per lo svago con segnale fino a 5 Km;
  • di fascia media con una distanza massima fino a 7/10 Km;
  • ricetrasmittenti professionali fino a 50 Km di copertura.

Numero dei canali

Un’altra caratteristica rilevante per scegliere le ricetrasmittenti giusti è il numero dei canali. Se l’ampiezza dello spettro delle frequenze determina la distanza massima che possono coprire i Walkie-Talkie, la quantità di canali indica invece quante persone possono collegarsi allo stesso tempo al medesimo segnale radio. In particolare i canali sono molto utili perché consentono di isolare una singola conversazione, ad esempio per parlare con un altro utente in maniera privata, senza farsi ascoltare dalle altre persone del gruppo.

Per capire come calcolare il numero dei canali basta pensare ai partecipanti dell’escursione, del viaggio o dell’attività da svolgere. If the group is composed of 5 people at most, a transceiver with 5/6 channels will be enough to communicate with everyone on some bands and reserve others for particular conversations. Multiple channels are surely a very appreciated feature, so it is advisable to pay attention to this aspect when choosing the device.

Communication system

As we have seen, Walkie-Talkies work through signals and frequency bands, so the communication system is quite simple. At the same time, some models offer interesting features, such as adjusting the transmission power, or voice compression devices, sort of filters that select the incoming and outgoing waves, ensure a sharper sound and reduce ambient noise during communications.

Among the best two-way radios on the market are also available products with Bluetooth connectivity, useful if you want to use the devices for mixed use, using both radio waves and a traditional connection depending on the occasion. Also not to be underestimated are the presence of a digital display and the hands-free setup, indicated for using the two-way radios also in the car. Depending on the purpose, it is possible to choose models with wire, ideal for those who use these instruments a lot, or without wire, definitely more practical and comfortable.

Power supply and autonomy

Among the factors to be taken into account when choosing Walkie-Talkies, there is the power supply system, a fundamental feature since they are portable devices, which must work for a long time even in isolated places and in emergency conditions. The products on the market are divided into two categories, those equipped with classic batteries, suitable for a short use of a few hours, or devices with rechargeable batteries, perfect for using the transceivers for several days.

Some top of the range models also offer the latest generation systems, with compatibility for wireless charging, in this way it is possible to take along a power bank and increase the autonomy of the device. As it often happens, the quality of the power supply depends on the cost, so the products with normal batteries are also the cheapest, while those with lithium-ion batteries require a higher expenditure.

Price and purpose of use

Finally, as every device is necessary to consider the purchase price, analyzing the purpose of use of the device. For the entertainment of children, a short walk in the woods, or to communicate from one room to another of the house is sufficient a low-end model, with battery power system, minimal coverage and a limited number of channels. The purpose in fact does not require special features, so it is possible to save money and buy a simple Walkie-Talkie radio.

On the contrary, however, those who need an efficient device, to ensure the safety of members of a group during an excursion, a demanding trekking route, or for professional or business use, the best option is a high-end transceiver. In this case, the device must ensure a high distance, a high number of channels and subchannels, good audio quality and a power supply of rechargeable batteries with long autonomy.

Best Walkie-Talkies on the market: which one to buy?

In the market you can find two-way radios for all price ranges and uses, buying the right product online or at a physical store specializing. For example, among the low-end models there is the Esynic, a single-band Walkie-Talkie radio with maximum coverage of 5 kilometers, noise reduction, 1500 mAh lithium-acid batteries and headset, on sale with a price of just 30 euros on Amazon.

For those who want to monitor children when they are in another room, an extremely economical product is the Floureon 4X transceiver, which can be purchased at a cost of only 16 euros. In the package there are 4 radios with 8 channels, simple buttons for the management of commands and a small digital display, with a range of not more than 3 km, therefore suitable for home use or for the entertainment of children in the garden.

Moving on to mid-range models, we point out the Walkie-Talkie Motorola T40, a transceiver with a maximum range of up to 4 km. This device provides 8 channels, an LC display and battery power, with 5 different colors to choose from and a price of about 40 euros. A similar cost is that proposed by Walkie-Talkie Tacklife MTR01, which at 28 euros offer 1300 mAh lithium batteries, 16 channels, 3 Km coverage, 2 headsets and USB chargers included in the standard equipment.

Between the best professional two-way radios we find instead the Motorola T80, purchasable at a price of about 108 euros. This model offers 8 channels with a distance of up to 10 km, hands-free functionality, LED lighting, earphones and vibration for incoming calls. Equally valid is the Walkie-Talkie for work Zxh TC-610, on sale with a cost of 245 euros. Specifications include up to 10 km coverage, dustproof and waterproof construction, ergonomic design, sound filter, automatic channel scanning and 1200 mAh battery.